First-term U.S. Rep. Garret Graves took aim at President Barack Obama and promised reforms to the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Flood Insurance Program during a gathering of industry officials in Thibodaux on Monday.
The Courier reports Graves routinely criticized federal rulings and regulations while speaking to the Bayou Industrial Group in his first public visit to the area in the new year. The Baton Rouge Republican, who faces re-election this fall, maintained he’s not trying to be partisan, but added that one cannot look at what’s occurred and “not think you’re being hated.”
After briefly listing off some of Congress’ bigger accomplishments in 2015, including passage of a federal highway bill that is expected to benefit projects such as elevating La. 1 and completing Interstate 49 South, Graves blasted rulings and regulations, specifically those tied to the energy sector.
Graves also lambasted a federal $10 per barrel oil tax proposal floated by Obama. Even though most economists agree consumers would end up paying the tax, Graves said the tax would “undermine” the country’s ability to compete globally.
Adding “insult to injury,” Graves said, is the deal made with Iran, which lifts exporting sanctions on a high-oil producing country, as well as Obama’s proposed energy well control rule, which would erase nearly 200,000 jobs and millions in tax revenues, according to economic think tank Wood Mackenzie.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating with this disconnect, what I feel like is an assault by Washington on our energy industry, which is having a disproportionate impact on us and our economy,” Graves told the group.
